Blue Jackets notebook: Richards likes late effort

In years past, the Blue Jackets often treated a late lead like a marathon runner on his last legs.

Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

In years past, the Blue Jackets often treated a late lead like a marathon runner on his last legs.

The finish line always seemed distant, and their poise was often wobbly. Whether this year's Blue Jackets would be different couldn't be determined through their first four games. They were never ahead late. Last night's game against the Dallas Stars provided the first test, and the Jackets passed it.

Even after the Stars pulled goaltender Kari Lehtonen with 44 seconds left for an extra attacker, the Jackets didn't get rattled and hung on for a 2-1 victory at Nationwide Arena.

"What kind of summed it up to me was the final 30-40 seconds," coach Todd Richards said. "It was in our zone and there were some moments when you were on the edge of your seat. But there was a desperation in our game - guys diving and trying to get in the shooting lanes. That's what it takes."

"Not that I want to go back to last year, but there were a ton of times when we played with that lead and we weren't successful," said Vinny Prospal, who scored the winner on a tough-angle shot early in the third period. "To play with that lead and really not give the other team great chances, it's a good confidence-builder for the next few games."

The Jackets tried to maintain possession of the puck instead of merely dumping it at the first whiff of trouble.

"We had an idea of making plays, not just throwing it up the wall and taking your problem and making it someone else's problem," Richards said.

It helped that Sergei Bobrovsky was stout in goal. Shaky goaltender play can sap the resolve of an embattled team.

Colton Gillies played after being a healthy scratch the first five games. He played 5 minutes, 39 seconds at right wing on a line with Mark Letestu and Jared Boll.

"I thought Colton was good," Richards said. "He used his size. He used his speed. He managed the puck well. He gave us some good shifts."

Slap shots

The Blue Jackets' planned quick departure after the game to Minnesota was postponed until today because of fog. The team's plane is scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. … The Blue Jackets' scratches were center Derek Mackenzie and defenseman David Savard.